College Women Research Articles

Spectrum of thyroid disorders among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background and objectives: Thyroid disorders (TD) are common among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Information on types of functional and structural TDs among Bangladeshi patients with T2DM is scarce in the literature. The present study aimed to determine the magnitude and characteristics of different TDs among Bangladeshi diabetic patients attending an urban healthcare center in Dhaka. Material and methods: The study included patients with T2DM who attended an urban Endocrinology Outpatient consultation center in Dhaka over a period of two years. Diagnosis of TDs was based either on previous medical records or on investigational results of thyroid functions/gland during the first visit. Standard criteria were used to diagnose TDs. Results: Total 1424 patients with T2DM were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the study population was 48.8 ± 12.9 years and 45.2% and 54.8% were male and female respectively. Among 1424 participants 217 (15.2%) had functional and/or structural abnormalities of thyroid gland. For those with abnormal thyroid function (14.3%), the most common was clinical hypothyroidism (10.5%), followed by subclinical hypothyroidism (2.6%), and clinical thyrotoxicosis (1.3%). Except for one, all patients with overt hypothyroidism had primary hypothyroidism. Among patients with overt thyrotoxicosis, Graves’ disease was the most common entity (50%). Multinodular goiter was the most frequent diagnosis among structural abnormalities (7 out of 13). Female sex (OR: 3.0, 95%CI: 1.5, 6.1, p=0.003) and obesity (OR: 2.3, 95%CI: 1.1, 5.0, p=0.039) had higher odds of having a diagnosis of overt hypothyroidism among patients with T2DM. Hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in diabetic patients with overt hypothyroidism. Conclusion: TDs especially hypothyroidism are common among female Bangladeshi patients with T2DM. Dyslipidemia and obesity are significantly more in overt hypothyroidism among patients with T2DM. January 2025; Vol. 19(1):008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.19.008 *Correspondence: Md Rakibul Hasan, Department of Endocrinology, Medical College for Women and Hospital, Uttara, Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh. Email: dr.mrh46@gmail.com; © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(CC BY 4.0).

Analysis of financial literacy and inclusion factors in Peruvian university women

Women’s financial literacy and financial inclusion have gained prominence in recent years. Despite progress, knowledge and access to finance remain common barriers for women, especially in emerging economies. Globally, domestic and economic violence has been recognized as a relevant social concern from a gender perspective. In this context, financial literacy and financial inclusion are considered to play a key role in reducing violence against women by empowering them with the necessary knowledge to manage their financial resources and make informed decisions. This study aims to evaluate the determinants that influence Peruvian female university students’ financial literacy and financial inclusion. To this end, a theoretical behavioral model is proposed, and a survey is applied to 427 female university students. The results are analyzed using a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM). The results validate all the proposed hypotheses and highlight significant relationships between financial literacy and women’s financial inclusion. A relevant relationship between financial attitude and financial behavior is also observed, as well as the influence of financial behavior and financial self-efficacy on financial literacy. The results also reveal that women feel capable of making important financial decisions for themselves and consider that financial literacy could help reduce gender-based violence. Based on these findings, theoretical and practical implications are raised. It highlights the proposal of a theoretical model based on antecedents, statistically validated in a sample of women in Peru, which lays the foundation for understanding financial literacy and financial inclusion in the Latin American region.

Challenges Faced during Teaching Practicum at the University Level: Perspectives of Prospective Teachers

Teaching practice is crucial for becoming successful teachers in the future and gaining knowledge on how to teach students effectively. In this regard they faced different challenges during their teaching practice period. This study aimed to understand the major challenges faced by teachers during their teaching practicum period at fifteen universities in District Multan. The researchers used a descriptive research design and surveyed students from three universities: Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, University of Education Lahore (Multan Campus), and Women University Multan. The education department and practicum students were highlighted. The study included 655 students in the department of education and 339 students as a sample. This study used a survey research design to collect data on teaching practicum challenges faced by prospective teachers at the university level. A questionnaire was developed with 39 statements, rank order, and open-ended questions. Supervisors, expert opinions, and a pilot study validated the questionnaire. The results showed acceptable reliability at 0.77 and 0.87, with a response rate of 84.75%. The data was analyzed using descriptive, inferential, and thematic methods, examining teachers' and supervisors' perceptions of challenges and solutions. The study found that prospective teachers face challenges in textbooks, curriculum, school management, administrative support, workload, classroom environment, and lesson planning. Female teachers face more challenges, while inadequate teaching methods and administrative opposition are less common.

Enhancing the Recovery Process for Undergraduate Women Survivors of Sexual Violence: Identifying Facilitators to Healing.

The psychosocial impact of sexual violence (SV) on college-aged women necessitates understanding positive influences of survivors' healing processes. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to investigate facilitators in the healing journey for undergraduate SV survivors. Seventeen women were interviewed using Photo-experiencing and Reflective Listening (PEARL). Thematic analysis revealed three core facilitators: (a) Support-formal and informal networks promote emotional well-being, (b) Personal Development-emotional intelligence, self-reflection, positivity, and interpersonal skills encourage healing, and (c) Actions-intentional efforts, self-care, and help-seeking empower survivors. These findings highlight key areas for supportive interventions to promote survivor healing, well-being, and quality of life.

Body Shame Predicts Healthcare Discomfort and Avoidance in College Women Through the Mechanism of Low Body Responsiveness.

Many cultures promote ideals for women's bodies that are difficult to meet, and not meeting these ideals may result in body shame. Body shame predicts discomfort in and avoidance of situations in which the body may be scrutinized. As the healthcare setting frequently involves examination of the body, body shame may predict discomfort in and avoidance of the healthcare setting. However, these relationships have been tested minimally and only in higher-weight women. Since body shame may occur regardless of BMI, body shame may predict healthcare discomfort and avoidance across the weight spectrum. Moreover, these relationships may occur because body shame predicts low body responsiveness, or the detection and valuing of bodily signals, which in turn may predict healthcare discomfort and avoidance. The present investigation tested these ideas in weight-diverse undergraduate women (N = 467) using cross-sectional (studies 1 and 2) and experimental (study 3) designs and imagined healthcare settings. In study 1, body shame correlated positively with healthcare discomfort, and low body responsiveness mediated this relationship. In study 2, body shame was not directly related to healthcare avoidance, but low body responsiveness mediated this relationship. In study 3, participants who underwent a body shame induction reported lower state body responsiveness than control participants, and lower state body responsiveness mediated the links between condition and healthcare discomfort and avoidance. Attitudes toward internal bodily functions may link body shame to healthcare avoidance and discomfort in college women across the weight spectrum. Future research may examine this model in more diverse populations.

The politics of place: Exploring spatial imaginaries and sociopolitical development for Black college women.

The politics of place: Exploring spatial imaginaries and sociopolitical development for Black college women.

A Brief Report on Sex-Specific Differences in Persistent Depression, Anxiety, and Loneliness Among Canadian Veterans During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Older adults are at increased risk of severe illness and mortality from Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) infection. However, public health strategies aimed at reducing spread of COVID-19 may have resulted in increased mental health symptoms, particularly among older adults. Currently, little is known about whether older Veterans were more likely to experience persistent mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic than non-Veterans. The objectives of the current study were to (1) compare differences in persistent symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness among a sample of Canadian Armed Forces Veterans and non-Veterans ≥55 years of age and (2) to evaluate potential sex-specific differences in persistent mental health symptoms. The data for this study are drawn from a longitudinal survey of Canadian adults (55 years and older) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ethical approval was received from the Women's College Hospital Research Ethics Board. Participants completed a baseline survey of sociodemographic, mental health-related, and COVID-19-related variables in May 2020 and 8 follow-up surveys monthly between May 2020 and January 2021. Modified Poisson regression models with robust standard errors were used to estimate risk of persistent symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Eight hundred twenty-nine participants (13.7% [n = 114] Veterans) were included in the analysis of persistent depressive symptoms, 859 participants (14.0% [n = 120] Veterans) were included in the analysis of persistent anxiety symptoms, and 862 (13.9% [n = 120] Veterans) were included in the analysis of persistent symptoms of loneliness. When comparing male Veterans and non-Veterans, there were small but statistically insignificant differences in persistent symptoms of anxiety (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-1.46), depression (aRR, 1.54; 95% CI, 0.63-3.77), or loneliness (aRR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.36-1.75); similar small but statistically insignificant differences were observed in persistent symptoms of anxiety (aRR, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.51-3.09), depression (aRR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.49-2.73), and loneliness (aRR, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.61-2.90) when comparing female Veterans to female non-Veterans. Qualitative, but statistically nonsignificant sex-specific differences in persistent symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic were observed in this study comparing Veterans and non-Veterans. Additional sex-stratified analyses using larger samples or qualitative interviews may be useful in understanding the unique mental health experiences of older men, women, and gender diverse Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Microbiology, chlamydia or gonorrhea incidence, and self-diagnosis accuracy in sexually active college women with lower urinary tract symptoms

Objective: Define microbiological characteristics of pathogens causing lower urinary tract infections (LUTI), frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) or Neisseria gonorrhea (GC), and accuracy of self-diagnosis by college women with LUTI symptoms. Participants: Sexually active women with LUTI symptoms attending a large south-eastern university. Methods: Participants completed a 15-question Qualtrics™ survey, provided urine for urinalysis and culture and a self-collected vaginal swab for CT/GC testing. Results: Escherichia coli grew in 72.3% of cultures. Cultures showed 49.1% growing ≥105 and 46.1% between 104 and 105 colony forming units/mL (CFU/mL). Most pathogens (94.6%) were sensitive to nitrofurantoin. Three participants were positive for CT and the LUTI self-diagnosis accuracy was 72.0%. Conclusions: Escherichia coli was the primary uropathogen. Cultures with ≥104 CFU/mL identified 95.2% of LUTIs, and nitrofurantoin is the empiric drug of choice. CT is rarely identified in this population and college women are accurate making a self-diagnosis of LUTI.

Misperceptions of Sexual Intent in Women: Exploring Possible Correlates and Their Relationships with Sexual Coercion Compared to Men

ABSTRACT Little research has examined women’s misperception of sexual intent (MSI) from men, despite research showing this does occur. We used a hypothetical scenario design to explore potential sexual coercion correlates (e.g. rape myth acceptance, self-control) that may also relate to MSI among both male and female college students (N = 1013), and whether these factors differ among samples of college men and women. Results indicate MSI occurred among both male and female students, but different sets of significant correlates of misperception were found. We discuss implications for future research on the role of misperception as a correlate of sexual coercion.

Mujeres Indígenas Universitarias, reflexiones en torno a sus experiencias

In today’s society, the various roles played by women and their impact on their communities has grown in importance. Thus, we need to realize women’s struggles are different and related to cultural diversity, and the experiences stemming from that circumstance. Hence the need to understand the barriers, challenges, and struggles faced by Indigenous women at the university drawing on an intercultural feminist approach. Following Bonilla and Rodriguez’ qualitative methodology, we found several challenges encountered by Indigenous university woman students regarding their recognition as social subjects. Likewise, they face the challenge of harmonizing their cultural identity experiences and social demands, as well as finding their place as autonomous and members of a collective. In addition, attention should be paid to structural, social and academic hindrances in women’s educational process and the roles they hold, which imply greater visibility, creating safe spaces, and exchanging cultural views.

Iron deficiency negatively affects behavioral measures of learning, indirect neural measures of dopamine, and neural efficiency.

Iron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent nutrient deficiency in the world, with a growing literature documenting the negative effects of ID on perception, attention, and memory. Animal models of ID suggest that dysregulation of dopamine is responsible for the deficits in memory. However, evidence that ID affects dopamine in humans is extremely limited. We report the results of a study involving college-aged women with and without ID learning two different category structures - a rule-based and an information-integration structure - selected based on the putative differential role of dopamine in learning these two structures. ID non-anemic (IDNA) and iron-sufficient (IS) women completed 1200 learning trials for each structure. EEG was collected to assess the effects of ID on features affected by dopaminergic state: error-related negativity (ERN) and positivity (Pe), feedback-related negativity (FRN), and task-related blink rate. In addition, we examined the EEG data for dynamics distinguishing IDNA from IS women, including a measure of neural efficiency. Both groups of women were able to learn both structures. However, IDNA women were initially slower and less accurate than IS women, specifically for the rule-based structure. There were large and persistent group differences in brain dynamics and neural efficiency measures. The results are discussed with respect to the selective impact of ID on initial rule-based learning and the persistent effect of ID on dopamine signaling and energetic efficiency.

Fostering Sustainable Development Through Women’s Entrepreneurship: Psychosocial Factors and Attitudinal Mediation in Colombian Higher Education

University female entrepreneurship has seen significant growth in Colombia in recent years. This study aimed to examine the psychosocial factors that determine the entrepreneurial intent of Colombian university women, specifically analyzing how entrepreneurial attitude mediates the relationship between these factors and the intent to engage in entrepreneurship using a structural equation modeling approach (SEM). A total of 409 university students from various higher education institutions in Colombia participated by completing an online survey. The results demonstrated that extrinsic motivation (β = 0.178 moderate intensity), family environment (β = 0.127 moderate intensity), innovation (β = 0.462 very intense), and intrinsic motivation (β = 0.117 low intensity) positively influence entrepreneurial attitude, which in turn has a significant positive effect on the intent to engage in entrepreneurship (β = 0.709 very intense). Furthermore, innovation, extrinsic motivation, family environment, and intrinsic motivation indirectly influence entrepreneurial intent through their impact on attitude. In conclusion, this study provides a deeper understanding of the psychosocial mechanisms that drive female entrepreneurship in the Colombian university context and lays the groundwork for the design of educational programs and public policies that enhance the talent and entrepreneurial aspirations of women in higher education.

The power of friends in reducing sexual assault risk in college women: A preliminary test of dyad-based motivational intervention approach.

Sexual assault (SA) is unfortunately common in U.S. college campuses. Friends are central to the social context of college women, and thus to the context of SA, and thus may play a key role in SA prevention. The objective of the present study was to provide a preliminary test of a novel friend-based motivational intervention (FMI) that encourages and prepares friends to work together to reduce SA risk. In a pilot trial, 51 friend dyads (N = 102) were randomized to either FMI or waitlist control (WLC) conditions and then followed over 3 months. Participant perceptions of the intervention and intervention-associated outcomes (engagement in friend-based assault protective behaviors [FAPB], readiness to change, barriers, sexual assault occurrences) were examined. Those in the FMI reported greater readiness to engage in efforts to protect their friend against SA and reported higher rates of FAPB across time points relative to the WLC. Though not statistically significant, women in the FMI also reported half as many incidences of SA at the 3-month follow-up. We did not observe decreases in perceived barriers to intervening that were targeted with the FMI. Participant feedback on their experiences with the FMI was positive; women reported that FMI was empowering, personally relevant, and useful. Findings point to the promise of this dyad-based motivational intervention that capitalizes on the natural resource of women's friendships to decrease risk for sexual assault. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Barriers to Effective Remote Education, Including Access to Technology, Student Engagement and Teacher Preparedness

This study focuses on barriers and facilitators in distance education in higher education institutions with regard to access to technology, student engagement, and teacher preparedness. The research study was conducted with a quantitative method to collect data. The self-administered questionnaire was administered to 258 students and 70 faculty members from several universities and colleges from Punjab, Pakistan, selected from the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, BZU University, Emerson College University, and the Women University Multan. The participants were selected using snowball sampling. The data was analyzed using correlation, regression, and post-hoc statistical techniques aided by the SPSS software. The research findings showed that access to technology is significantly related to student engagement, teacher preparedness, as well as impact of student engagement on academic performance and learning satisfaction. The regression analysis further confirmed that higher student engagement levels are linked with better learning outcomes. Additional post-hoc tests confirmed that teacher preparedness significantly influences student engagement. Findings suggest that access to technology and training in its application are essential for enhancing the quality of remote education. It means that improvement needs are noted in policy change concerning equable access to technology and additional investments in developing teachers in online environments.

A Novel Approach for Monitoring Training Load and Wellness in Women's College Gymnastics.

Monitoring training load has the potential to improve sport performance and reduce injuries in athletes. This study examined training load and its association with wellness in artistic gymnastics. Training load and changes in training load (acute:chronic workload ratio [ACWR]) vary throughout 1 season; wellness is inversely correlated with training load and ACWR. Prospective case series. Level 3. A total of 30 female collegiate gymnasts from 4 Division I National Collegiate Athletic Association teams participated (mean age, 20 ± 2 years). During 4 months, before daily training, wellness surveys assessed sleep, energy, soreness, and mood (1-10; higher = better). After daily training, training load surveys assessed training duration per event (warm-up, vault, bars, beam, floor, strength and conditioning) and session rating of perceived exertion (RPE; 1-10; 10 = hardest) per event. Coaches reported technical complexity of training per event (1-4; 4 = hardest). Training load was calculated as [duration] × [RPE] × [technical complexity]. ACWR represented a ratio between acute [1-week] and chronic [4-week rolling average] training loads. ACWR and weekly training load fluctuated throughout the season (ACWR mean weekly range: 0.68-1.11; training load mean weekly range: 2073-6193 arbitrary units). ACWR and weekly training loads were trichotomized into low, medium, and high groups; positive correlations were observed between each wellness variable and ACWR (P < 0.01) and between each wellness variable and weekly training load (P < 0.01). Our novel training load monitoring framework for women's college gymnastics enabled us to characterize training load and its relationship with wellness throughout 1 season. This method should be explored in gymnasts across various ages and competitive levels. This study proposes a framework and the initial findings of monitoring training load and wellness in collegiate women's gymnastics.

The Impact of Affectionate Communication and Emotional Intelligence on Sexual Stress Among College Women

Stress is a pervasive challenge in the lives of college students, with women experiencing higher stress levels than men. This study investigates the unique stress experiences of college women, particularly in the context of sexual stress. Using affection exchange theory (AET; Floyd, 2002) as a theoretical framework, trait affection and emotional intelligence are examined as predictors of sexual stress. Using survey data collected from U.S. college women (N = 337), results indicated that higher levels of both trait affection and emotional intelligence were associated with lower sexual stress. Additionally, emotional intelligence partially mediated the relationship between trait affection and sexual stress. Future research should explore sexual stress in diverse populations and consider additional factors such as previous trauma and hormonal responses to stress. Overall, this research sheds light on an under examined area and underscores the importance of addressing sexual stress in the college population.

Familial and Individual Risk Factors, Sexual Assault, and Mental Health: A Comparison of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White College Students.

Though sexual assault is prevalent among college campuses, there is a paucity of research on whether risk factors vary for different racial/ethnic groups. As such, this article examines familial and individual risk factors and three sexual assault types (coercive, physically forced, and incapacitated) with depressive symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms to see whether such risks vary for Black/African American, White, Asian, and Hispanic groups of college students. Data were gathered in 2019 to 2020 from 783 undergraduate college women and men at a large public university in the Midwestern United States. Results revealed that in terms of family background, Black/African American, Asian, and Hispanic students reported more experiences of child physical abuse and lower levels of warmth and support compared to White students. White college students, however, reported more frequent heavy drinking compared to Asian and Hispanic students. For sexual assault, Asian students reporting experiencing incapacitated sexual assault more so than White students, whereas Black/African American students reported experiences of physically forced sexual assault more so than White students. For mental health, Hispanic students reported more PTSD symptoms compared to White students while Asian students reported more depressive symptoms compared to their White counterparts. It is noteworthy that early experiences of child physical abuse and lower warmth and support continued to significantly impact both PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms. Our results demonstrate the importance of going beyond the typical dichotomy of White and non-White to gain a more nuanced understanding of how risk factors vary for different racial and ethnic groups, which has implications for intervention and prevention when understanding sexual assault and mental health outcomes.

Pathways into Computing Fields by Florida’s Community College Students: An Intersectional Descriptive Analysis

ABSTRACT While it is well understood that gender and racial stratification in computing fields continues to exist, we too often approach this workforce problem from a deficit perspective and look to typical sites (where status quo norms are reproduced) to investigate potential solutions. Using an intersectional descriptive analysis on state administrative data on Florida state colleges, we prioritize centering the academic journeys of Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latina/e/o/x, and Multiracial community college women and men, addressing the often-overlooked effects of holding multiple marginalized identities in quantitative research. Analytic results from this study suggest that women of color completed high school computing courses significantly less often than men. Further, our findings reveal that these disparities in high school computing coursetaking were even greater among those who enrolled in Advanced Placement Computer Science. Employing an intersectional approach enabled this study to dive into these and other nuanced effects. Implications offer directions for future research, practice, and policy that may enhance efforts to broaden participation in computing in high school and among community college students.

The Weight of It All

Abstract Sociologists often interpret racial differences in help-seeking behavior in the United States as stemming from differences in cultural capital, an implication being that those who hesitate to seek help lack understanding of how important it is for success. In this paper, we draw on the work of W. E. B Du Bois and research on gender and racial stereotypes to show that it is not a lack of understanding about the importance of help-seeking, but rather, Black women’s double consciousness that underlies their reluctance to seek help relative to White women. Through twenty-nine in-depth interviews with Black and White college-aged women, we investigate how they make meaning of two competing ideals: the need to be seen as a strong woman and the need for help and social support. We identify a discourse around gender stereotypes for White participants and intersectional stereotypes for Black participants. Where Black and White women experience a consciousness born out of their marginalization relative to men, comparing how they differently navigate stereotypes about strong women reveals the analytic power of Du Bois’s concept of double consciousness. First, the “veil” reveals the racialized gender stereotypes Black women worry they might confirm by seeking help. Second, Black women’s sense of “twoness” means they more often than White women saw their help-seeking behaviors as reflecting negatively on their broader community. Finally, consistent with Du Bois’s point that “second sight” brings awareness but not liberation, we find that even though Black women were hyperaware of the disadvantages of not seeking help, they tended more often than White women to reach a breaking point before seeking it.

A Composite Counternarrative of Discrimination as a Social Determinant of Health: Black College Women's Experiences of Gendered Racism.

Discrimination is a social determinant of health (SDOH) that negatively affects racially minoritized students and patients. Nurses and nurse educators must understand discrimination, including nuanced and intersecting ways that it negatively affects academic and health outcomes. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 Black women at a primarily White institution in the Southeast United States. The interview guide, informed by critical race and intersectionality theories, explored experiences of gendered racism, particularly in the students' social environments. Narrative analysis was conducted, then a composite counternarrative was composed to portray experiences of gendered racism across multiple levels, including intrapersonal, interpersonal, and institutional. The composite narrative revealed experiences of multi-leveled gendered racial microaggressions that shape the daily lived experiences of Black college women students. Three main themes emerged: Limited Autonomy, Differential Treatment and Differential Assumptions, and Differential Access to Power and Resources. Gendered racism differs from White women's experiences of sexism and Black men's experiences of racism. Institutional efforts to support Black college women must be intentional in addressing the unique ways they experience discrimination in various settings on campus. Nurses' and nurse educators' understanding of gendered racism as a SDOH may ease the hesitancy in addressing health inequities. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(x), xx-xx.].